SHIPS IN BALLAST

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 82, 3 October 1931, Page 15

SHIPS IN BALLAST

LAST SEASONS RECORD

A statement regarding the dumber of ships that came out to NoW Z^aljmd in ballast to load cargoes for Home during the last export season was made by the employers during the hearing of the waterside, workers' claim tor exemption from the 10 per cent, cut in wages in. the Arbitration Court yesterday. ' " ■ ■■■ - ■•■■'■: „■'. ■•' '. : .', .., The statement was that the seasonal nature of the New Zealand export trade I was a factor in holding up the cost of shipping. Ships must be available to take the New Zealand cargd when it was ready, and they must arrive punctually at their trading ports to lift such cargo as might be ready. It was difficult to secure, outward freights,at times suitable for the vessels engaged in export. trade. As compared with 192 V the overseas, ships were now coming' put. with just about ;half cargoes. During the season just ended eleven vessels, had come out in ballast, arid four ships had brought out part cargoes of basic slag, which was carried at a very low' rate,-and for which the costs of. loading'and discharging were : high. Conveying; this "cargo /Was p'rac-" tically equivalent -to sailing in ■'ballast.' Two of the: vessels, made two successive outward trips to New Zealand in ballast, or in other words, they-each carried only two cargoes in two xoinplete round voyages, each round voyage requiring approximately 24,000 mjles of steaming. ' ' ■ . ,'.■'- ' It is understood-that a number of ships are to come but to New Zealand, in ballast to load cargoes'' for Home in the coming export season; ' ■